U.S. patent number 7,117,690 [Application Number 11/134,014] was granted by the patent office on 2006-10-10 for chilled beverage container.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Munchkin, Inc.. Invention is credited to Steven B. Dunn, Mark Hatherill, Kevin D. Johnson.
United States Patent |
7,117,690 |
Dunn , et al. |
October 10, 2006 |
Chilled beverage container
Abstract
A container such as a drinking cup includes an inner wall
defining a space and an outer wall that preferably includes
portions that are translucent and preferably transparent. A thermal
mass is provided between the inner and outer walls and has a
decorative pattern that is visually discernible through the outer
wall. The thermal mass preferably includes a gel material that will
not freeze at the normal operating temperature of a household
freezer. The gel material includes a multiplicity of globules that
preferably have a median diameter that is within a preferred sizing
range. The decorative pattern is preferably created by the
provision of a colorant material that is introduced within the
interstitial space defined between the gel globules.
Inventors: |
Dunn; Steven B. (Beverly Hills,
CA), Hatherill; Mark (Manhattan Beach, CA), Johnson;
Kevin D. (Los Angeles, CA) |
Assignee: |
Munchkin, Inc. (North Hills,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
37072283 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/134,014 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/457.1;
62/457.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D
20/02 (20130101); C09K 5/10 (20130101); F25D
3/08 (20130101); A47G 19/2227 (20130101); A47G
19/2288 (20130101); Y02E 60/145 (20130101); F25D
2303/0831 (20130101); F25D 2331/808 (20130101); Y02E
60/14 (20130101); F25D 2500/02 (20130101); F25D
2303/085 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F25D
3/08 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;62/457.1,457.3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tyler; Cheryl
Assistant Examiner: McCraw; B. Clayton
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Knoble Yoshia & Dunleavy,
LLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A container, comprising: an inner wall defining a space; an
outer wall; and a thermal mass positioned between said outer wall
and said inner wall, said thermal mass comprising a gel material
that will not freeze at normal operating temperatures within a
household freezer.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said gel material is a
material that will freeze at a temperature of 0.degree. F. or
below.
3. A container according to claim 1, wherein said gel material is a
material that will not freeze at temperatures of -10.degree. F. and
above.
4. A container according to claim 1, wherein said container is a
drinking cup.
5. A container according to claim 1, wherein said gel material
comprises a multiplicity of gel globules that have a median
diameter that is within a range of about 0.1 mm to about 20 mm.
6. A container according to claim 5, wherein said multiplicity of
gel globules have a median diameter that is within a range of about
0.25 mm to about 10 mm.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to articles for holding and
maintaining beverages in a chilled state, and particularly concerns
an improved chilled beverage container that is visually appealing,
safe and durable.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Consumers often prefer to drink beverages such as juice, water and
soft drinks in a chilled condition. Typically, such beverages are
stored in a cooled area such as a refrigerator or ice chest in
order to maintain the desired temperature for consumption. However,
once they are removed from storage such beverages tend to heat up
quickly, particularly outdoors on warm days.
Several well-established solutions have been advanced for keeping
beverages cool for extended periods of time. For example, external
insulating sleeves that are fabricated from a foamed rubber or
plastic material are well known for keeping beverages that are
stored in cans cool. In addition, a number of containers have been
proposed that include a fluid or gel disposed in a chamber within
the container that is designed to freeze when placed in a household
freezer. When taken out of the freezer and filled with a beverage,
such containers will prolong the period of time that the beverage
is kept chilled. However, the durability and safety of such
containers is questionable because expansion of the volume of the
liquid or gel when it freezes and subsequent contraction when it
melts places a great deal of mechanical stress on the container.
Such thermal cyclic expansion and contraction could ultimately
breach the chamber in which the liquid or gel is stored, which
would be undesirable.
In addition, conventional containers that include a freezable
thermal mass are typically bulky and not very visually
appealing.
A need exists for a chilled beverage container that is more
visually appealing, safer and more durable than conventional
freezable chilled beverage containers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a chilled
beverage container that is more visually appealing, safer and more
durable than conventional freezable chilled beverage
containers.
In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, a
container according to a first aspect of the invention includes an
inner wall defining a space; an outer wall including at least one
translucent portion; and a thermal mass positioned between the
outer wall and the inner wall, the thermal mass having a decorative
pattern that is visually discernible through the translucent
portion.
According to a second aspect of the invention, a container includes
an inner wall defining a space; an outer wall; and a thermal mass
positioned between the outer wall and the inner wall, the thermal
mass including a gel material that will not freeze at normal
operating temperatures within a household freezer.
A container according to a third aspect of the invention includes
an inner wall defining a space; an outer wall; and a thermal mass
positioned between the outer wall and the inner wall, the thermal
mass comprising a gel material comprising a multiplicity of gel
globules, and wherein the gel globules have a median diameter that
is within a range of about 0.1 mm to about 20 mm.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty that
characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in
the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a
better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the
objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the
drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying
descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a container that is
constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the container that
is depicted in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a photographic depiction of a thermal mass material
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and
referring in particular to FIG. 1, a container 10 constructed
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is embodied as
a drinking cup 12 having a main body portion 13, a resilient
elastomeric pedestal or base 14 and a resilient elastomeric upper
insert 16 that defines a rim 17.
As is best shown in FIG. 2, main body portion 13 includes an inner
wall 18 having an inner surface that defines an interior space 20
for holding a beverage or other substance. Main body portion 13
further includes an outer wall 22 that is fabricated from a
translucent material. Preferably, the entire outer wall 22 is
fabricated from a clear, transparent material such as
polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, polyethylene
terephthalate or polycarbonate plastics. The preferred material is
polypropylene. As FIG. 2 shows, an annular compartment 24 is
defined between an inner surface 26 of the outer wall 22 and an
outer surface 28 of the inner wall 18. Annular compartment 24 is
preferably filled with a thermal mass 30 having a relatively high
specific heat that may be heated or chilled in order to transfer
heat to or away from the contents of drinking cup 12.
Preferably, the thermal mass 30 is a refrigerant material, which
for purposes of this document means a material that is designed to
be chilled so as to transfer heat away from the contents of the
drinking cup 12 in order to keep the contents chilled for as long
as possible. Alternatively, thermal mass 30 could be a material
that is designed to be heated so as to keep the contents of the
drinking cup 12 warm, or a mass that performs both functions.
According to one important aspect of the invention, the thermal
mass 30 provides a decorative pattern that is visually discernible
to consumers through the translucent outer wall 22. The decorative
pattern preferably includes a first material and a second material
that is visually discernible from the first material. Preferably,
the first material is embodied as a gel material that is made up of
a multiplicity of small globules 32, as is shown in the photograph
provided in FIG. 3. The second material is disposed in an
interstitial space 34 that is defined between the globules 32, as
FIG. 3 also shows. The second material in the preferred embodiment
is preferably a liquid that has a colorant suspended therein. In
the preferred embodiment, the small globules 32 of gel are
preferably clear, non-colored and transparent. As FIG. 3 shows, the
juxtaposition of the clear gel globules 32 and the colored liquid
in the interstitial space 34 creates an interesting and
aesthetically pleasing variegated pattern that consumers are
expected to enjoy.
In the preferred embodiment, the outer surface 28 of the inner wall
18 is preferably opaque so as to provide a high-contrast visual
backdrop for the clear gel globules 32 and the colored liquid in
the interstitial space. Preferably, inner wall 18 has a light
color, which most preferably is white.
Preferably, the globules 32 of gel are configured so as to have a
wet grain size with a median diameter D.sub.G that is within a
range of about 0.1 mm to about 20 mm, and that is more preferably
within a range of about 0.25 mm to about 10 mm.
Gel 20 is preferably formulated from a hydrophilic material in
which water is trapped within a polymeric matrix. The hydrophilic
material may be selected from the group consisting of glycerin,
propylenglycol, ethylene glycol, dimethyl sulfoxide, and dimethyl
formimide, with the preferred material being propylenglycol. The
preferred polymeric matrix is selected from the group consisting of
polymers, copolymers, and terpolymers containing acrylic acid or
acrylamide monomer moieties, and most preferably is a polymer of
acrylaide. A variety of formulations can be employed in the
formulation of gel 20; several are specifically disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,671,267, issued to Edward I. Stout, which is hereby
incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein.
In a first embodiment of the invention, the thermal mass is
fabricated so that it is designed to freeze in temperatures that
would normally be expected to exist within a household freezer, and
so that it will avoid boiling at temperatures beneath about
180.degree. F., which will prevent it from boiling in most
residential dishwashers. More preferably, the thermal mass is
fabricated to avoid boiling at temperatures beneath about
200.degree. F. Household freezers are generally maintained at
temperatures of between about 0.degree. F. to about 5.degree. F. In
this embodiment, the freezing temperature of the thermal mass is
preferably within a range of about 5.degree. F. to about 32.degree.
F., and is preferably about 10.degree. F. A composition that would
provide the desired characteristics of this embodiment of the
invention includes 96.86% by weight distilled water, 0.77% ammonia
polyacrylate, 2.31% propylenglycol with 0.07% Kathon GC added as a
preservative. Colorants such as food dyes may be added in
percentages that are preferably 1% by weight or less in order to
achieve the desired variegated aesthetic effect. This composition
will freeze at a temperature of about 25.degree. F. after about
four hours and avoids boiling at temperatures up to about
215.degree. F.
In alternative composition according to the first embodiment of the
invention would include 83.15% distilled water, 0.77% ammonia
polyacrylate, 16.01% propylenglycol with 0.07% Kathon GC added as a
preservative. Again, colorants such as food dyes may be added in
percentages that are preferably 1% by weight or less in order to
achieve the desired variegated aesthetic effect. This composition
will freeze at a temperature of about 20.degree. F. after about
four hours and avoids boiling at temperatures up to about
215.degree. F.
In a second embodiment of the invention, the thermal mass is
fabricated so that it is not expected to freeze at temperatures
that would normally be expected to exist within a household
freezer. This embodiment of the invention provides the advantage
that the slight expansion and contraction that is associated with
freezing and melting will be avoided, thus reducing thermal cyclic
stresses on the container 10, and particularly on the structure
that defines and maintains the integrity of the annular compartment
24. Preferably, a thermal mass according to this embodiment will
have freezing temperature that is no greater than 0.degree. F., and
will be able to withstand temperatures of 180.degree. F. or greater
without boiling. A composition that would provide the desired
characteristics of this embodiment of the invention includes 80.89%
by weight distilled water, 4.76% ammonia polyacrylate, 14.28%
propylenglycol with 0.07% Kathon GC added as a preservative.
Colorants such as food dyes may be added in percentages that are
preferably 1% by weight or less in order to achieve the desired
variegated aesthetic effect. This composition has a freezing point
of approximately -20.degree. F. and avoids boiling at temperatures
up to 215.degree. F.
A second example of a composition according to the second
embodiment of the invention would include 67.16% by weight
distilled water, 0.77% ammonia polyacrylate, 32% propylenglycol
with 0.07% Kathon GC added as a preservative. Colorants such as
food dyes may be added in percentages that are preferably 1% by
weight or less in order to achieve the desired variegated aesthetic
effect. This composition has a freezing point of approximately
0.degree. F. and avoids boiling at temperatures up to 215.degree.
F.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
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